News Release

Premier announces structural changes

Media Contact(s)

FREDERICTON (CNB) – Premier David Alward announced today a structural reorganization designed to streamline administration, improve performance and better align existing resources with government renewal goals.

"New Brunswickers have told us they want the provincial government to deliver better services in a more efficient and effective way," Alward said. "Our vision for change means focusing government efforts on core services, accountability and continuous performance improvement."

Launched last year, Government Renewal has been focused on ensuring the provincial government can provide affordable, sustainable and the most responsive services possible to New Brunswickers, now and in the future.

As part of this exercise, corporate services government-wide will be integrated to form a new Department of Government Services, led by Minister Craig Leonard.

The new Department of Government Services will be responsible for the New Brunswick Internal Services Agency and Service New Brunswick as well as services associated with the procurement, printing, translation and records functions of the Department of Supply and Services and the marketing, graphic design, web and event management functions of Communications New Brunswick.

The Executive Council Office will assume responsibility for government's corporate communications. Communications New Brunswick staff currently assigned to departments will become employees of those departments.

The departments of Environment and Local Government will be amalgamated and led by Minister Bruce Fitch. The new Department of Environment and Local Government will maintain responsibility for environmental stewardship, provision of a local government and service framework; it will also assume responsibility for Efficiency NB.

Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney, currently minister of environment and minister responsible for the status of women, will become minister of energy. Blaney will maintain her role as minister responsible for the status of women.

Currently under the leadership of one minister, the departments of Tourism and Parks and Wellness, Culture and Sport will be fully integrated to form a new Department of Culture, Tourism and Healthy Living. Minister Trevor Holder will continue to serve as its minister.

A new Department of Economic Development will lead all economic development activity by assuming responsibility for the functions delivered by Business New Brunswick; and for the management of the Regional Development Corporation. Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud will continue as its minister as well as minister responsible for Invest NB.

The Department of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat will be incorporated into the Executive Council Office. Alward will continue as minister responsible for those functions.

The changes are effective March 15.

"This structural reorganization will allow us to streamline administration and reduce the number of deputy minister level positions across government by five to 23," Alward said. "I am pleased to announce the following changes to the senior ranks of New Brunswick's civil service."

● Sylvie Levesque-Finn, currently deputy minister of Local Government, has been named deputy minister of the new Department of Government Services.
● Denis Caron, currently president of the Regional Development Corporation, has been named deputy minister of Environment and Local Government.
● Phil LePage continues in his role as deputy minister of both Energy and Natural Resources.
● Carolyn MacKay, currently deputy minister of the departments of Tourism and Parks and Wellness, Culture and Sport, will become the deputy minister of Culture, Tourism and Healthy Living.
● Bill Levesque, currently deputy minister of Business New Brunswick, will become deputy minister of Economic Development and will assume responsibility for the Regional Development Corporation.
● Robert MacLeod continues in his role as president of Invest NB.
● Jean-Marc Dupuis, currently deputy minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, has been named deputy minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. Dupuis replaces the current deputy minister, Jean Castonguay, who is retiring.
● Robert Rioux, currently assistant deputy minister at Business New Brunswick, has been appointed deputy minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries.
● Judith Keating, currently serving in an acting capacity, has been named deputy minister of Justice as well as deputy Attorney General.
● Other senior civil servants currently acting in deputy minister level positions will return to their regular positions.

"I feel confident this team will provide New Brunswick with the leadership we need to bring our province back to fiscal health, improve performance and shift our efforts and resources toward a more focused, efficient and effective system of program and service delivery," Alward said. "I thank Jean Castonguay for his many of years of excellent service to New Brunswickers and wish him a happy retirement. I also thank all civil servants who have stepped forward over the course of the last year to contribute to government renewal."

Following is the complete list of deputy ministers, deputy heads and presidents of Crown corporations (* denotes a change or addition):